How feasible is it to use XP after Microsoft stops support?

I still have XP and won't be updating it with any newer Microsoft OS. I have had updates turned off for years now. I do have a great firewall and antivirus (which I do keep updated.) I also have Xubuntu installed alongside it and most often boot into it. For most things Xubuntu works fine, but if there's something such as an Office document that's picky and HAS to be used on Windows, I can boot to XP and have no problems. With my firewall, when booted to XP I can simply "click" to lock out the network (including the internet.) If you're technically adept, you can keep your XP installation in a virtual machine inside Linux.
It does take some getting used to a new OS, but it's well worth it. A new Linux OS makes much more sense than buying a new copy of Windows 7 or 8, which may not run on older hardware, and takes more getting used to than most Linux distros. If you have any Android devices you are already using Linux. Most internet servers run on it, as well.
It's definitely the wave of the future, and all for free. Plus, you can always find a distro that runs on old hardware, or simply boot from CD or USB (if supported.)

It depends on if this is your only PC or one that is used for specific applications(s).
It depends on if you use this PC to browse the Internet or if this is a standalone computer.
It depends if you plan on installing new software, upgrading hardware or if you are happy with what you have.
It depends when you plan to get a newer PC with a supported OS

The plain truth is that at some point, unless this computer is dedicated for a specific function for use with the already installed software, you are going to need to upgrade your computer. It's a sign that other components of your PC are also aging. If you are not using the Internet, not planning on adding new software and not planning on upgrading any hardware, you could be perfectly fine using your XP based computer. At least until something costly breaks.

On the other hand, even if this is not your primary computer, you probably use the Internet and may very well want or need something a little faster with more storage, RAM, or something compatible with new software on the market. It's time to start looking for something newer and faster. While it may not be urgent, you should take this as a warning that your "workhorse" may soon have to be put to pasture.

Microsoft will STOP offering ANY update. This will also mean no more security updates at all.
While you use third party security solutions, you'll be left whide open to any vulnerability affecting Windows itself and it's components.

Those vulnerability may allow some exploits to effectively disable your firewall, antivirus and antispywares.

If it's for a computer that NEVER connect to the internet, it's not an isue.
If the computer access, even if very rarely, the internet, you are asking for trouble.

There is also the isue of updating your applications and security components. Eventualy, maybe soon, you won't be able to find any that can still run on Windows XP. Think about it, how many newer application can still run on Windows 98, even if the hardware was not an isue?

If you don't want, or can't (the computer can't run Windows 7), upgrade your computer to Windows 7, you should look at replacing Windows by Linux.

Firstly you will be surprised how many people use a PC simply to perform tasks that do not require the internet. Especially people of older years that, perhaps, bought a cheap .386 or .486 running windows 3.1. They found it cheaper then a word processor or electric typewriter and with a dot pin printer they could write, to them. simply wonderful letters which they would then use the long-trusted Royal Mail (which may get lost now and then but was immune to virus.... unless you sneezed on the letter when you put it in the envelope !) and post it.
Some had Win98/ME/XP but it made no difference... they either had no interest in the internet.. no access to it, or, didn't have a phone line... especially in the countryside.
I've upgraded many a computer for folk with no interest in the internet.
Windows8 was designed primarily for the mobile phone but Microsoft, as usual, made it an upgrade for Windows7 to grab the extra revenue. Look how much less expensive it is? Point made? I think so.
I installed a beta copy sent by Microsoft to me as I am a member and also Microsoft certified (in many ways LOL) and a holder of a MEDL. It lasted 2 days for me when I installed it on a computer I keep handy in the room my grandkids use when they stay over. Flattened the hard drive, restored the MBR and re-installed win7.
I'm thinking Microsoft have lost the plot. One cannot do things with a mobile phone that can be done with a PC/Laptop.

I read the replies to this question and have to disagree with almost all of them. Hardware and software will almost always be available for XP. Hardware and software is still available for WinME so there isn't anything to worry about there.

As far a security issues go, remember the newer the OS is the fewer hackers are going after older OS's. There is no worry about XP on the internet, those that do worry so much are for the most part overly paranoid.

I still run Windows 3.11 on a DOS 6.22 machine, a P-III running at 1.2mhz with a 256meg ATI all-in-wonder card and 256meg of RAM installed. I wish I had this machine back with I was knee deep in programming!! The machine sees the whole 256meg installed, although I do have the last version of QEMM installed, and although there were no DOS drivers for the ATI, I found some generic ATI drivers that give me the resolution to run windows in a high res VGA mode.

Now if I can keep an old DOS machine going all these years there will be no problem keeping a good XP machine going.

eBay can be a good friend for older computers, but look at garage sales and flea markets for good deals on older boxes. Good to have a spare motherboard or two, some extra memory, and a couple 250gig hard drives. One other option is that if you do have a floppy drive then opt for one of the dual drive setups, a 1.44/1.2meg combo drives. They are easy to install and one cable will give you both drives as an 'A' & 'B'.

To conclude, stay with the XP, it will last you for years and if you can, look for spare parts to have just in case of any failures, it will last you a good 15 to 20 years down the line.

OK. My previous box was a pre-loved OEM which came with XP on it, but no (for obvious reasons) CD. The first thing I did was upgrade to W2K Pro and install SP4 and Rollup 1. This was back in 2004.

W2K served me well and properly until 2011, when the box itself developed senile dementia. So, with tears in my eyes I discovered that no current chipset would support my beloved W2K and I was forced to convert (I cannot say "upgrade") to W7.

{rant} W2K is Microsoft's best ever OS and it's a damn shame they abandoned it! {/rant}

So, yes WXP will serve you untill your box dies, then it won't work on the new box. Don't worry overmuch about the patches etc: I ran W2K without updates of any kind for 7 years and suffered no ill effects. Ummm... yes I did have to upgrade Visual Studio a couple of times, but that's all.

So go for it!

Gordon.

While all the problems the XP users will face in the upcoming years trying to continue using likely the best OS Microsoft had produced to this date have already been addressed, what to really do about it has not

Windows 7 wasn't exactly a success based on it's short life as the 'pushed system' and '8', whether Microsoft will ever admit it or not, was never written for normal PC use - it is bulky , cumbersome (ugly) and aimed at tablets and not PC's --- us keyboard users don't need all the 'touchscreen & virtual keyboard options' that bloat 8 to a unwieldy monstrosity ... it is why XP users want to hang on.

I for one will not buy a current PC as they all come pre-loaded with Win 8 and why pay for something I have no intention of using and must battle to get rid off . I , personally am seriously looking at Linux or Apple as OS for my next PC , something I actually need. I need a new PC (mine old) / Laptop (mine dying) , not a tablet, not a convertible but a real computer high speed - high memory unit with real hard drives, CD/DVD and a real keyboard and as far as PC/desktop a unit which I can adapt and modify to my needs. What I don't need is some overgrown , jack of all trades, master of none Operating system that wants to also be the replacement for my kitchen sink.

What Microsoft needs to learn, and it only will do so if we, the people that pay so they can exist tell them publicly, is that we are not all the same. Our needs are not all the same and our computers are not all the same and while 8 may well be great (used very, very loosely), it is a waste of space and hindering functionality on PC's and people that need 'real specific applications' and what we need, want and demand is that we , the customers, get what we need and not just what Microsoft wants to shove down our throats and just maybe they need to think about separate systems along parallel paths. And actually some of us have Desktops, Laptops & Tablets each with a specific purpose they are used for with specific needs for each and specific programs for each. Yes that may allow the end users to show Microsoft what they want and prefer, something they really don't want (this kind of makes me think of the ORIGINAL McIntosh commercial) and may have 3rd party programs write more for one than the other (which again reminds me of that commercial as MS would just as soon not have any 3rd party programs to exist), though with current programing languages and shared 'libraries' a mute point as one basic written program can be encoded from there to fit any OS

We need to get through to 'Big Easy' that ether they start caring about us, or we'll pursue other options and leave them out in the cold -- Apple has drifted 'our way', Linux has become more and more mainstream and supported by almost all software/hardware companies by now and even for Tablets, Microsoft may find the other 'open system' , Linux based 'Android' giving us options. Microsoft watch out, I can't speak for the rest here, but as for me, I am ready to bail out once XP becomes too difficult to use (I followed if from it's NT roots).

And at least that is my two cents worth

When I had to replace my dead laptop, the replacement came with Windows 7. That took care of any concern about issues with XP; or so I thought. A program to help me re-learn Biblical Greek requires XP and a 32-bit system. I'll probably pick up a cheap used laptop with XP (a local shop has a few really good deals) and it will be used only for that one program. With that being the only use, I still don't think I'll have to worry about any issues with XP.

I have XP and 7 on one machine and XP and 8 on another.

On my main machine I have 2 drives--Win 7 on a 64GB SSD and a 1TB with 2 partitions--XP on a 66GB partition and the rest for data.

Originally the machine was running XP on an 80GB PATA and data on 500GB drive.

The other machine has XP on a removable 40GB PATA, Win8 on a 64GB SSD and the old 500GB for data.

The machines do not dual boot. I normally use Win7/8. If I need to use XP, when booting I enter setup, set the XP as the boot drive and reboot.

I have had crashes of the Win 7 and Win 8 that required complete reinstalls. (Do not rely on Acronis backups for recovering a boot disk!) With data on a separate drive it was annoying but the data was fine.

Other benefits of this approach are repurposing older hardware and minimal upgrade costs. The original upgrades (before the SSD's) were just the cost of Win 7/8 and re-using old 40/80GB disks. And when there is a major crash ... hey, I've got a fully operational computer with all my data just by booting from the other OS.

On the other hand, I have been experimenting virtualization with Oracle's free Virtualbox. I keep the 40GB XP disk because it has a number of decade-old programs I need rarely that don't have free upgrades and won't work under Win 7/8. At some point I'll probably virtualize that. EaseUS Todo Backup Workstation can do P2V and has a fully functional 15-day trial version. (Buy through CNet to get for $32 instead of 39 through their website. Search for Todo Backup Free.)